BUTTER AND CHEESE

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23414, 22 August 1941, Page 6

BUTTER AND CHEESE

BRITISH MARKET

MR GOODFELLOW DISCUSSES PROSPECTS

(P.A.) HAMILTON, August 21. “During the last two seasons, the British Government has purchased ■ from the Government of New Zealand the total available butter and cheese that can be shipped, other than that needed to supply the normal requirements of our regular clients in other parts of the world,” said Mr W. Goodfellow, managing director of Amalgamated Dairies, in an address at Hamilton to-day. “The total quantities of all butter and cheese imported into the United Kingdom during the year "ended June •30 are not known, due to sinkings,” added Mr Goodfellow, “but we supplied the following estimate:—Butter: 1938-39, 472,000 tons; 1940-41, 225,000 tons; 1941-42, 19,800 tons. Cheese: 1938-39, 149,000 tons; 1940-41, 160,000 tons; 1941-42, 225,000 tons. “The estimated consumption a head for butter in 1938 was 241b, and in 1940-41 it was 171b. The cheese ration in England is now 3oz a person a week, and Boz to miners, farmworkers, and genuine vegetarians, and will 1 probably be increased again when the coming season’s supplies are available. Large quantities of cheese are required for the forces. The butter ration is now 2oz a week, and is not likely to be increased during the war period, due to the reduction in British imports. “The present position is that the total table fat ration, including mar-r garine, is Boz, and of this total only 2oz mty be butter. Fortunately the quality of margarine supplied has not been up to the pre-war higlr standard, and in consequence there is already a growing demand for more New Zealand butter,” added Mr Goodfellow. “Both butter and margarine are still sold only under national brands, and regardless of the country of origin. “It is difficult to forecast after-war retail prices of dairy produce in the' United Kingdom; but the opinion of the trade is that butter will sell at 4d per lb higher than the best margarine when supplies are again normal. To date the herds of Denmark, and Holland have been depleted by only approximately 25 per cent., but another winter may mean a further substantial reduction#